Problem
My Research Topic: Overweight and Obesity as Health Issue
Chapter 6 CPA: Read all sections! Special attention to sections on "Developing a Working Thesis: Four Models" and "Establishing Context for a Thesis "
Practice some of the strategies covered in chapter 6 in order to take stock of your research progress (Overweight and Obesity as Health Issue), sort through what you've discovered, identify what you still need to discover, and move toward refining your thesis. Write your answers to each of the questions below to establish context for your research topic (pages 170-175). (About four paragraphs/one page)
I. Have you established that your issue is current and relevant, that it is or should be on people's minds? What information would you need to do so?
II. Can you briefly summarize what others have said in the past to show that you are familiar with how others have addressed the issue?
III. Have you identified any misunderstandings or gaps in how others have addressed the issue? Describe them. Do you have any ideas or information that would address these misunderstandings or help fill these gaps?
IV. At this point, what is your take on the issue? Draft a working thesis statement that will present readers with something new to think about, building on and extending what others have argued. In drafting your thesis statement, try out the models discussed in this chapter (pages 165-168) and state which one is an especially good fit:
1) Correcting Misinterpretations model: "Although many scholars have argued about A and B, a careful examination suggests C."
2) Filling the Gap model: "Although scholars have noted A and B, they have missed the importance of C."
3) Modifying what Others have Said model: "Although I agree with A and B ideas of other writers, it is important to extend/refine/limit their ideas with C."
4) Hypothesis-testing model: "Some people explain A by suggesting B, but a close analysis of the problem reveals the possibility of several competing/complementary explanations such as C, D, and E."